No doubt, when you imagine your Los Sueños Resort vacation, you dream of days in the sun and surf enjoying the clear blue Central Pacific, lush rainforest, golf and a variety of ways to enjoy Costa Rica’s tropical playground from your HRG villa or condo.
Quite possibly, casino gaming never crossed your mind. However, in addition to the beautiful landscape and its colorful exotic inhabitants, the nightlife in and around the Los Sueños Resort includes more than dinner and clubbing; it’s teaming with vegas style casinos too.
The Los Sueños Marriott’s Stellaris Casino, a quick cab ride from your condo, is one of the best in Costa Rica, upscale and elegant, hospitable and relaxed. Before hitting the tables, enjoy dinner at any one of the restaurants at Marina Village or the Marriott. Table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps supplement the usual array of slot machines. Solaris is open daily from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.
In nearby Jacó, Croc’s is a small, elegant beachfront casino in resplendent Vegas style. The craps, roulette and blackjack dealers are professional and friendly. In Costa Rica, there’s no wheel in roulette; instead, the numbers are drawn from a Bingo or lottery tumbler. The casino, which many consider the best in town, has 150 slot machines, including many of the popular digital games.
Also on Playa Jacó, Morgan´s Cove Resort & Casino on Playa Jacó features U.S.-style breakfast and international cuisine at the Black Beard Lounge and Restaurant. The casino also includes a bar.
Despite touting the Las Vegas connection, many of the familiar table games have slightly different rules. Texas Hold-em is popular with small weekly tournaments and larger international tournaments held several times each year. Five-card draw, pai gow, stud poker and Caribbean stud poker (called Tute in Costa Rica) are also popular poker games. Rules may vary slightly so watch a few hands first.
In Costa Rica, blackjack is a variation on rummy. The rules are nearly the same, except the house doesn’t pay 1 ½ times on blackjacks, but does pay double for rummy—three of a kind (three sevens gets a special bonus) or a three-card straight flush. It’s also sometimes possible to lose a push. Odds tend to favor the house, even for skilled players.
There are several other casinos farther afield in Quepos, Manuel Antonio, other hotels in Jacó and points north, but if you prefer to stay close to home, the Marriott and Croc’s are your best choices. Ask HRG staff to book a cab for you and you can have a worry-free night of international gambling.